Driving means for textile machines



March 21, 1961 Filed Sept. 30, 1957 J. R. WHITEHURST 2,975,489

DRIVING MEANS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 36E RWHITEHURST BY @M M, MQIJW ATTORNEYS March 21, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST 2,975,489

DRIVING MEANS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Sept. 30, 1957 2 SheetsSheet 2 ymaw wq vaw ATTOR NEYS INVENTORI Ice RwHn-E-Huvasr DRIVING MEANS non TEXTILE MACHINES Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 687,034

11 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) This invention relates generally to an improved driving means for textile machines and more particularly to an improved driving means for driving the coiler heads and sliver collecting cans of a drawing frame as the sliver is drawn by the machine and coiled in the cans.

The conventional type of driving means presently used to drive the coiler heads and sliver cans of a drawing frame has included a single drive shaft extending longitudinally of the drawing frame and driven in timed relation to the drawing rolls by the usual driving means on the drawing frame. The drive shaft has a plurality of bevel gears fixed thereon, one of which is positioned adjacertt each coiler head and one of which is positioned on the drive shaft to drive the can rotating mechanism. The drive shaft is rotatably supported in bearing supports spaced at intervals along the shaft and fixed on the spectacle plates in which the coiler heads are mounted for rotation. The bevel gears on the main drive shaft mesh with vertically disposed bevel gears, each of which has a driving pinion and both of which are rotatably mounted on the spectacle plate so that the pinion meshes with the coiler head gear. The drive shaft of the can rotating motion has a bevel gear at the upper end which meshes with a bevel gear on the main drive shaft also.

While the bevel gears are all mounted on the drive shaft and therefore normally remain in alinement, the coiler head pinions and their bevel gears are independently supported on the spectacle plate and therefore very often do not properly mate or aline with the drive shaft bevel gears. As is well known, when meshing bevel gears are not supported to properly mate with each other, especially during high speed operation, the teeth are more easily broken, they wear excessively, there is lost motion or play between the gears, and they make a lou noise when rotated.

The bevel gears also require frequent oiling which causes the gears to collect lint and the like and interferes with their effective operation and, of course, there is always the possibility that the oil will get on the sliver being coiled into the cans. Also, since the coiler heads and the can driving motion are driven by the bevel gears on a common coiler drive shaft, :1 terrific strain is initially placed on the bevel gears, the drive shaft, and the motor driving the shaft when the drawing frame is started because the initial rotation of the drive shaft is simultaneously transmitted from the drive shaft to each of the coiler heads as well as to the can drive motion. In order to replace one of the bevel gears on the drive shaft the entire shaft must be removed, all the gears between the gear to be replaced and the end of the shaft removed, the gears replaced and then realined with their mating gears.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a composite coiler head drive shaft which is supported on a rigid member such as the main beam of the drawing frame, the drive shaft being made up of a plurality of spaced interconnected sealed gear units, each of the units housing a pair of United States Patent 2,975,489 Patented Mar. 21, 961

meshing bevel gears rotatably supported in the gear unit and retained therein in fixed rotational position relative to each other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a yieldable connection between gear units so that when initially starting rotation of the composite drive shaft, rotation will be successively imparted to the coiler heads to thereby reduce the initial strain on the machine driving parts when the drawing frame is started.

It is another object of this invention to provide a composite drive shaft for coiler heads having a plurality of interconnected gear units, each of which has a housing completely enclosing and supporting a pair of meshing bevel gears to prevent the entrance of lint and the like and providing a lubricant supply chamber in which the bevel gears rotate.

It is another object of this invention to provide a composite drive shaft for coiler heads and the sliver can rotating mechanism of a drawing frame having a plurality of enclosed gear units each of which is removably attached to a frame member of the drawing frame, the gear units being removably coupled together so that any one of the gear units may be easily removed without removing any of the other gear units.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a composite drive shaft for the coiler heads and the sliver can rotating mechanism of a drawing frame having a plurality of gear units drivingly interconnected, a gear unit drivingly connected to each coiler head and a gear unit drivingly connected to the can rotating mechanism, .the driving connection between each of the gear units for driving the coiler heads being a non-metallic gear fixed on the output side of the gear units and engaging the metallic coiler head gear, the non-metallic gear being provided to drive the coiler head gear without requiring lubrication, to reduce wear, reduce gear noise, and absorb starting impact.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic plan view of a drawing frame with parts removed and showing the improved driving means supported on the main beam of the frame;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the coiler head driving shaft and schematically illustrating the connection between the coiler head drive shaft and the can rotating gears;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the centermost gear unit shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the two gear units shown at the right-hand end of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view looking upwardly at the non-metallic gear, illustrating the manner in which it is fixed on the output shaft of one of the gear units and being taken looking in the direction of the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the drawing frame and being taken substantially at the longitudinal position indicated by the line 6-6 in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the gear units and being taken substantially along the line 7-7 in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the conventional parts of a drawing frame include a main frame support beam 19 carried by the usual end frame members, not shown, and supporting the usual upper and lower drawing or drafting rolls 12 and -13 (Figure 6) which are driven by the conventional drive mechanism of the machine, not shown, to attenuate or draw the strand of sliver or roving indicated at S. After passing through the drawing rolls 12 and 13, the sliver S is drawn through a trumpet 15 and 3, between a pair of calender rolls 16 and 17. The sliver S then passes into an inclined passage 20 formed in the conventionalcoiler head or tube gear 21. The tube gear 21 is mounted for rotation on a spectacle plate 23 (Fig- 'ure 6) suitablysecured along its rear edge to the main support beam 19 as byan angle bracket 24.

Of course, there may be any desired number of these coiler heads or tube gears 21, there being four illustrated in Figure l, and each of which has a sliver collecting can 26 (Figure 2) mounted for rotation therebeneath in a longitudinally extending can table 36. The cans 26 are adapted to be revolved in timed relation to the coiler heads 21 and calender rolls 16 and 17. In this respect, each of the two inner cans 26 (only one of which is shown in Figure 2) is rotated through meshing gears 32 and 33 driving a can gear 34 and driven by a gear 35 fixed on thelower end of a vertically disposed can table driving shaft 46, it being understood that a set of meshing-gears and a can gear duplicating those designated by reference numerals 32, 33 and 34 is employed to drive the other inner can from the gear 35 on the drive shaft 46. Each of the two outer cans 26 (only one of which is shown in FigureZ) is driven by the can gear 34 for the inner can 26 adjacent thereto which transmits rotation from the drive shaft 46 to the can gear 34 of the respective outer can 26 through an intermediate gear 34a disposed between the can gears 34, 34- and in meshing engagement therewith. The upper end of the drive shaft 40 is'rotatably supported in a bearing block 41 (Figure 3) and extends through the spectacle plate 23. The upper end of the can table driving shaft 4t) is driven in a manner to be later described.

The coiler tubes 21 and can table driving shaft 40 are usually driven through a train of gears including a driven intermediate gear 43 engageable with a coiler shaft drive gear 44 fixed on a shaft 45 (Figures 1 and 2). As is well known, the shaft 45 usually extends longitudinally adjacent each of the coiler tubes or gears 21 and is provided with a plurality of bevel gears spaced longitudinally therealong and fixed thereto. Each of these bevel gears mesh with other bevel gears which in turn drive spur gears engageable with the teeth of the coiler gear 21. The shaft 45 is usually supported at spaced intervals throughout its length in the upper end of bearingmcmbers fixed at their lower ends on the spectacle plate 23.

The foregoing parts are conventional parts of a drawing frame and'it'is with these parts that the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated. The present invention comprises a composite drive shaft broadly indicated at 59 which includes a plurality of power transmitting gear units broadly indicated at 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d and 55a; The units 55 are interconnected by connecting shafts 56, 57, 58 and 59, in a manner to be presently described, so that the rotational driving motion imparted to the gear 44 and shaft 45 will be transmitted to e'achof the units 55a through 55e;

Each of the units 55a through 55s are identical, it being noted thatthe units 55a, 55b, 55d and 55a drive corresponding coiler gears21 while the unit 550 drives the can table driving shaft 40, in a manner to be presently described. Since each of the units 55:; through 55e are identical, only the unit 55a will be described in detail and'the other units will bear like reference characters.

Referringto Figure 7, the numeral 60 indicates a housing of the gear unit 55a which is provided with a hollow center or interior 6621. The housing 60 is provided with a first bearing receiving opening 62 at one end and a second bearing receiving opening 63 at the opposite end in longitudinal alinement'with the opening 62. The opening 62 is adapted to receive the outer race 65 of an antifriotion sealed bearing broadly indicated at 66 and having an inner race 67. Locking or retaining means is provided for preventing longitudinal movement of the bearing 66 in the opening 62 which comprises inner and ring 1 outer locking rings 70 and 71 respectively, removably mounted in grooves cut in "the opening 62 adjacent opposite sides of the bearing 66.

The opening 63 is adapted to receive the outer race 75 of an anti-friction sealed bearing broadly indicated at 76 and having an inner race 77. The opening 63 is provided with locking or retaining means to prevent longitudinal movement of the'bearing 76comprising a shoulder 80 at the juncture of the inner end of the opening 63 with the interior 61 of the housing 60and a lock removably engageable with a suitable groove formed in the opening 63.

The bearing 76 rotatably supports the axial hub 83 of a first or main bevel gear 85 having'a shoulder 86 defined at the juncture of the hub 83 with the bevel gear 85 and which is seated against the inner race 77 of the bearing 76. The bevel gear 85 is fixed on a first or main shaft $6 as by a transversely extendingpin 91 penetrating the hub 83 and shaft 96.

With rotation or reciprocation of the main shaft 90, identical motion will be imparted to a second or auxiliary bevel gear hi5, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the bevel gear 85. The bevel gear 93 is mounted for rotation on an axial hub 94 which joins the bevel gear 93 to define a shoulder 95. The hub 94 is mounted in the inner race 96 of an anti-friction sealed bearingbroadly indicated at 97 and having an outer race 98 with the shoulder being seated against the inner race 96.

The bearing 97 is mounted in an opening 100 positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the openings 62 and 63 and the central axis of the opening 100 substantially bisects the distance between the openings 62 and 63 (Figure 7). The bearing 97 is retained or locked against longitudinal movement in the opening 100 by locking means which comprises a shoulder 162 formed at the juncture of the inner end of the opening 100 and theinterior 61 of the housing '60 and'a lock ring 104 removably engageable with a groove cut in the opening 100. p

The bevel gear 93 supports the inner end of a second or auxiliary shaft 105 fixed in the bevel gear 93 andhub 94, as by a press fit and may be additionally fixed by any conventional means such as a key or swaging, not shown.

The shaft 105 has an enlarged intermediate portion 107 integral with the inner end to define a shoulder 108 which bears against the inner race 96 of the bearing 97. The shaft 105 is also provided with a second enlarged outer end portion 110 integral with the intermediate portion 107 and which has a suitablcfiber gear (112 suitably secured thereto as by a locking pin 113 which penetrates the hub of the gear 112 and the shaft portion 110 and suitable keys in the form of pins 114 (Figure 5) which penetrate the shaft portion 110 and the gear 112 to-prevent relative movement between the shaft portion 110 and the gear 112. The gear 112 may be formed from any of several types of fiber gear stock available, the present gear having a plastic base reinforced by a coarse fabric such as canvas.

The housing 60 has outwardly extending mounting ears and 121 east integral with the housing 60 which are fixed on the main beam 10 by screws 122 and 123 penetrating the ears 120 and 121 and threadably mounted in the beam 10. The ears 120 and 121 are also provided with suitable guide holes adapted to receive respective-guide pins 125 and 126, the inner ends of which are suitably embedded in the beam 10.

gear 21, and also contains locking means for preventing relative movement between the intermeshing bevel gears 85 and93 housed therein. Inorder to reduce noise,

increase wear and reduce friction between "the bevel gears 85 and 93, it is desirable'to provide a'supply'of grease or heavy oil in the interior 61 of the housing 60. The level at which the grease is maintained in the interior 61 of the housing 60 is indicated by the dotted line 127 in Figure 7. The grease in the housing 60 may be replenished'by removal of a tapered oil plug 129 (Figures 3 and 4) threadably embedded in an opening in the front of the housing 60.

Thus, the motion imparted. to the main shaft 90 will be imparted to the gear 112 through the bevel gears 85 and 93 and relative longitudinal movement of the shafts 90 and 105 relative to each other will be prevented since the gears 85 and 93 are locked in a fixed intermeshing relationship relative to each other. The gears 85 and 93 are locked so that they cannot move toward or away from each other since the gear 85 is fixed on the main shaft 90, the hub 83'thereof is pressed into the inner race 77 of the bearing 76 so that the shoulder 86 abuts against the inner race 77, and the bearing 76 is locked against longitudinal movement by the shoulder 80 and the lock ring 81. The gear 93 cannot move longitudinally since the hub 94 thereof is pressed into the inner race96 of the bearing 97 so that the shoulder 95 abuts against the inner race 96 and the bearing 97 is locked in fixed position by the shoulder 102 and the lock ring 104. Obviously, since the gears 85 and 93 rotate in grease, they do not require frequent oiling, the 011 cannot get out and spoil or stain the sliver passing through the coiler gear tube 20, and lint and other foreign matter cannot enter the housing 60 and gather on the bevel gears 85 and 93.

The unit 550 is identical to the unit 55a, previously described, except that the enlarged end 110 of the shaft 105 has gear teeth cut therein to provide a relatively small metallic gear 130 (Figure 3). The gear 130 meshes with a fiber gear 131 suitably secured to the upper end of the can table driving shaft 40 (Figures 2 and 3) to transmit rotation from the unit 55c and to the fiber ear 131.

It will ie noted, by referring to Figures 3 and 4, that the main shafts 90 of the units 55a through 55e are drivingly interconnected to each other by identical sleeves 140 connecting opposite ends of the shafts 90 to the connecting shafts 56, 57, 58 and 59. Each of the sleeves or couplings 140 is provided with a longitudinal keyway 141 adapted to receive a pair of keys 142 and 143 set in keyways cut in the main shaft 90 and the connectmg shafts 56, 57, 58 and 59 respectively. The sleeves 140 are held against longitudinal movement on the main shafts 90 and the connecting shafts by set screws 144 and 145 threadably embedded in the sleeve 140 and the inner ends of which are seated against flattened portions on the shafts.

In order to remove and replace any one of the driving units 55a through 55a, it is merely necessary to loosen the set screws 144 and 145 and slip the sleeves 140, adjacent opposite sides of the unit to be removed, outwardly therefrom, remove the screws V122 and 123, remove the unit and replace it with a new bearing unit. Thus, the gear unit may be replaced much faster than one of the bevel gears on a drawing frame having a single solid shaft where all of the bearing members supporting the shaft have to be disconnected and the complete shaft removed, the undamaged gears taken off and the damaged gear replaced with a new gear, and then the gears again threaded onto, spaced properly thereon and then fixed on the shaft.

Also, with a single solid drive shaft, the drive is simultaneously applied to each bevel gear, each tube gear 21, and the can table drive shaft 40 simultaneously when the machine is started to thus put a terrificload on the motor and gears. In the present invention the interconnecting shafts 56 through 59 are formed of a cold rolled steel which has some torque resiliency so that any sudden torque applied thereto will be dampened or reduced by the resiliency of the connecting shafts. Also, the drive from the gear 44' will be transmitted to the tube gears 21 in a successive manner with the unit 55a first rotating its corresponding tube gear 21 before the unit 55:: rotates its corresponding tube gear 21. Although this successive starting is not perceptible, it is sufficient to reduce the initial load on the motor and train of gears driving the gear 44 and the composite shaft 50 to more evenly distribute the load when first starting the drawing frame.

It is thus seen that an improved driving means for drawing frames and the like has been provided which is made up of a plurality of improved power transmitting gear units, each of which is a completely enclosed selfcontained unit housing a pair of, meshing bevel gears which are locked in fixed rotational relationship to each other. The units are each connected or coupled together by interconnecting shafts in such a manner that they may be individually removed easily and so that when initially starting the drawing frame, the drive will be successively applied to the coiler head gears and can rotating mechanism to relieve the initial strain on the drawing frame and driving motor. Also, each of the gear units is supported on a rigid frame member to maintain the original alinement of the gear units with the other parts of the drawing frame.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Improved driving means for drawing frames having a plurality of coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear, said driving means comprising gear units fixed on said drawing frame adjacent each tube gear, each of said gear units comprising a rotatable main and auxiliary shaft, a bevel gear fixed on each of said shafts, said bevel gears intermeshing to drivingly connect said shafts to each other, the main shafts of said gear units comprising a plurality of axially alined drive shaft segments, means connecting said plurality of drive shaft segments together, and gear means fixed on each auxiliary shaft and being positioned in driving engagement with corresponding tube gears.

2. In a structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said gear units includes a housing enclosing said bevel gears and rotatably supporting said bevel gears, and means to lock said main and auxiliary shafts against longitudinal movement in said housing.

3. Improved driving means for drawing frames having a plurality of coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear for feeding sliver into cans therebeneath, and a can driving shaft for rotating the cans in timed relation to said tube gears, said driving means comprising a plurality of spaced alined gear units fixed on said drawing frame, each of said plurality of gear units being positioned adjacent a corresponding tube gear, a single gear unit in alinement with said plurality of gear units, said single gear unit being positioned adjacent said can driving shaft, each of said gear units comprising a rotatable main and auxiliary shaft, intermeshing bevel gears mounted on said main and auxiliary shafts, the main shafts of each of said gear units comprising a plurality of axially alined drive shaft segments, means connecting said plurality of drive shaft segments together to drivingly interconnect the gear units, gear means fixed on the auxiliary shafts of said plurality of gear units to drivingly connect the auxiliary shafts to their corresponding tube gears, and means fixed on the auxiliary shaft of said single gear unit to connect the auxiliary shaft of said single gear unit to said can driving shaft.

4. In a structure according to claim 3 wherein each of said gear units includes a housing enclosing and rotatably supporting said bevel gears, and said housing containing a supply of lubricant in which said bevel gears rotate.

5. In a drawing frame having a horizontal beam supporting a plurality of longitudinally spaced coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear for feeding sliver therethrough into cans therebelow, the combination of means for driving the tubegears comprising a plurality of spaced alined gear units, means removably mounting each of said gear units on the beam, means interposed in the space between adjacent gear units and having its opposite ends connected to the'correspo'nding gear units to interconnect the gear units, each'of said gear units havingta driven vertically extending shaft depending therefrom, and a gear mounted on the end'of each of saidshafts and being positionedin inter-meshing relation with its corresponding tube gear"for'driving the-same.

6. In a structure accordingto claim wherein said mounting means of each of said gear units includes a housing fixed on said beam and rotatably supporting said vertically extending shaft, and means to lock said vertically extending shaft against longitudinal movement in said housing. i g

7. In a drawing frame having a horizontal beam for supporting a plurality of coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear for feeding sliver into cans mounted for rotation on a can table, and a can driving shaft for rotating the cans in timed relation to the tube gears, the combination of means for driving the tube gears and the can driving shaft, said driving means comprising a plurality of spaced alined gear units, means reniovably mounting each of said gear units on thebeam, means interposed in the space between adjacent gear units and having its opposite ends connected to the corresponding gear units to interconnect the gear units, each of said gear units having a'vertically extending shaft depending therefrom, a group of said plurality of gear units corresponding in number to the number of coiler heads, said group comprising all but one of said plurality of gear units, gear means on the vertically extending shafts of said group of gear units meshing with corresponding tube gears, and gear means on the vertically extending shaft ofthe remaining one of said plurality of gear units meshing with a corresponding gear on the can driving shaft for rotating the cans in timed relation tothe tube gears.

8. In a drawing frame having a horizontal beam supporting a plurality of coiler heads each having as a component thereof a rotatable tube gear for feeding sliver therethrough into cans positioned therebelow, the combination of means for driving the tube gears in unison comprising a plurality of spaced alined gear units corre sponding in number to the number of coiler heads, means removably mounting each of said gear units on the beam, each of said gear units having a rotatably mounted main shaft, the main shafts of said gear unitscomprisinga plurality of axially alined drive shaft segments, means drivingly interconnecting said plurality of drive shaft segments of the 1 gear units together, each of said gear units having an, auxiliary shaft drivingly connected to its corresponding main shaft and extending downwardly therefrom, and a gear secured to the lower end of each auxiliary shaft and meshing with the corresponding tube gear to drive the same. I

9. Improved driving means for drawing frames having a plurality of coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear, said driving means comprising a'plurality o'ftspaced gear units each fixed on said drawing frame adjacent each tube gear, each of said gear 'units comprising; a main shaft, an auxiliary shaft extending laterally from said main shaft, 21 bevel gear fixed. on each of said shafts and meshing with each. other, a hubon eachtof said gears, an anti-friction bearing fixed on the hub of each gear, a housing enclosing said gears and supporting said antifriction bearing, and means to lock saidtanti-friction bearings in said housing; the main shafts of said gear units comprising a plurality of axially alined drive shaft segments, means connecting said plurality of drive shaft segments together, and gear means fixed on each auxiliary shaft for driving engagement with corresponding tube gears.

10. In a structure according to claim 3 wherein said plurality of drive shaft segments are positioned in spaced apart relationship, and said means connecting the plurality of drive shaft segments together comprises; a con.- nector shaft interposed in the space between adjacent drive shaft segments in axial alinement therewith and having its opposite ends disposed adjacent the proximal ends of said 'drive shaft segments, and sleeve members connecting the opposite ends of said connector shaft to corresponding ends of said drive shaft segments.

11. Improved drivingrneans for drawing frames having a plurality of coiler heads each having a rotatable tube gear, said driving means comprising gear units fixed on said drawing frame adjacent each tube gear, each of said gear units comprising a rotatable main and auxiliary shaft, a bevel gear fixed on each of said shafts, said bevel gears intermeshing to drivingly connect said shafts to each other, the main shafts of said gear units comprising a plurality of axially alined drive shaft segments, said plurality of drive shaft segments being positionedin spaced apart relationship, a connector shaft interposed in the space between adjacent drive shaft segments in axial alinement therewith and having its opposite ends disposed adjacent the proximal ends of said drive shaft segments, sleeve members connecting the opposite ends of said connector shaft to corresponding ends of said drive shaft segments, and gear means fixed on each auxiliary shaft for driving engagement with corresponding tube gears;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,975 Mills et a1. Dec. 12, 1899 1,783,301 Morton Dec. 2, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,064 Great Britain of 1896 

